Mark 11:30

30 Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer Me."

Mark 11:30 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 11:30

The baptism of John
The doctrine of which he was the first preacher, and the ordinance of which he was the first administrator:

was it from heaven, or of men?
was it of divine or of human institution?

answer me;
directly and plainly, without any shuffling, or evasion: it is a fair question, and may be answered; and the answer to it our Lord suggests would naturally lead to a proper one to their question; (See Gill on Matthew 21:25).

Mark 11:30 In-Context

28 "By what authority are You doing these things? Who gave You this authority to do these things?"

29 Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

30 Was John's baptism from heaven or from men? Answer Me."

31 They began to argue among themselves: "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say, 'Then why didn't you believe him?'

32 But if we say, 'From men' "-they were afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought that John was a genuine prophet.